Overview & Reviews

The all-new Z4 roadster picks up where the Z3 left off. Well, sort of. There's no coupe version this time around. And the jury is still out on whether the Z4's "flame-surfaced" body is a welcome replacement for its predecessor's sexy corporate styling. In other respects, the newcomer offers much to like -- a more rigid chassis, a real glass rear window and, starting in the spring of 2003, a Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) like the one in the M3. All in all, the driving experience is exhilarating -- so if you can get past the styling and come up with the requisite cash, you know where this one belongs on your test drive list.

• Superb road manners, plenty of standard technology and safety features, range of transmission choices, brand cachet.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 192.00

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  Sexy little 2 seater Fun to drive - 2003 BMW Z4
  By BG - November 11 - 7:39 pm

  Look for a well cared for car. These cars beg for you to push them. One that is taken care of will give you years of enjoyment. The car has the look that many will envy. its fun to drive and if you get a premium equipt model you will not be disappointed. Enough said.

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  2003 Z4 3.0 manual Long-term driver - 2003 BMW Z4
  By Don Avirett - October 24 - 1:41 pm

  I have driven this car on the highway at 80 mph for 1 hr each way to work for the last 4 years. I bought it with 107k miles and it now has 224 k miles and runs like new and looks almost new. The only things I have done to it besides tires and brake pads is an AC compressor, a starter, front end stabilizer bar, front left wheel bearings, valve cover gasket repair, and a radio all normal maintenance stuff. I never take it to a BMW dealer for repair. Almost any regular mechanic can work on it and they do not charge high prices. If you get your parts through a regular parts store, they are not expensive. Also, I had rear main seal leak that I fixed with Lucas stop leak. I do not like the electronic power steering its a little different, but Ive gotten used to it. The car has a lot of get up and go but it could use a little more power to demoralize Texas turbo diesel pickups. I drive the car through hailstorms, snowstorms, and windstorms of the Texas Panhandle, and it performs amazingly well. It gets about 27 mpg on the highway.

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  Good Car For The Price - 2003 BMW Z4
  By oldmarine5 - May 29 - 4:33 pm

  Bought from dealer with 5000 miles on it. Also, had a Z3. The style of the Z4 is not as nice as the Z3 but many features of the Z4 are an improvement. Great engine. Smooth with plenty of power. I am 62" and , unlike many two seaters, has good room for the driver. Expensive to maintain, but I only drive it on sunny days with the top down. Just hit 20,000 miles. Red color and gets lots of compliments. I am satisfied.

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  Disappointed in Quality - 2003 BMW Z4
  By magicdolphin - November 4 - 7:41 pm

  I only have 30000 miles on my BMW Z4 2003 I bought it out at the end of my lease the elec. motor for the convertible top short circuit due to run off water that enters the plastic housing where the elec. motor sits in. The water cant drain and the electric motor will rust and quit. Very expensive repair, poor design. I had the housing replaced in 2008 and now it needs to be replaced again and of course my extended warranty wont cover the repair nor will the dealership ... very poor design indeed and not at all what I expected from BMW. I also just had to replace the rubber around the windshield and the cowel due to dry rot. I would have thought the convertible roof of a BMW would last

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  Needs improvement - 2003 BMW Z4
  By Wolf - May 25 - 12:21 am

  Owned the car since 2004 has now 82,000 miles, performed well under warranty, had to replace the motor for the convertible top at 42,000 mi and now again at 82,000. both times the elec. motor short circuit due to run off water that enters the plastic housing where the elec. motor sits in. The water cant drain and the electr. motor will rust and quit. Very expensive repair, poor design. Car handles great, fun to drive on smooth roads but noisy, and potholes are deadly and my wife hates to put on her make-up while we are driving, rough ride

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  Would be great if I could steer it! - 2003 BMW Z4
  By Joe M - May 9 - 6:50 am

  Very nice and fun to drive, however when the temperature gets over 80 degrees the power electronic steering stops working. This is a known problem to BMW (bulletin # 4515500-02) and a safety issue but they want $3000 to fix it. - So much for German Engineering, maybe it never gets above 80 degrees in Baveria!

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  The Good and the Bad - 2003 BMW Z4
  By Jason Y. - January 3 - 12:49 pm

  Shortly after purchasing it used at 59,200 miles, the coolant light came on so I filled it up when the engine was cold and it continues to leak whenever the coolant expands with a hot engine. Im guessing the coolant expansion tank is cracked. Other than the above mechanical issue this car draws a lot of semi-truck drivers attention and praises and other people on the road also. It feels like this car has sticky glue on the tires during fast turns. Manual 6-speed transmission shifts wonderfully. Not the fastest car on the road against say a Ford 500GT or any other hot rods but this Z4 has the right balance between styling and performance.

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  Disappointed - 2003 BMW Z4
  By Eric Morales - November 24 - 2:26 pm

  If you buy these cars, expect to shell out big bucks for repairs. We have an extended warranty which so far has been of no use because of water leakage. The top wouldnt open because of a leak. BMW at least paid for labor, parts still cost us 800.00. Now the wipers stopped working. Some part cracked and water again somehow got in. Going to cost 1100.00 to fix and again, its not covered under the warranty. Great looking and handling car, but poorly built. Will never buy a BMW again.

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  Plus and Minus - 2003 BMW Z4
  By zzzzzzzzippy - November 14 - 2:45 am

  Bought our jet black 03 with 23,750 mi. on it (our 5th sports car, out 1st BMW). 2.5L eng, Premium and conven. packages, auto trans, 18" ellipsis wheels w/RFTs. Handles well. Electric steering so it gives no feedback thru steering wheel. Accelerates well, esp between 45 and 80. Seat bottoms arent very comfortable after 45 min. Less interior storage space than a Miata. Roomy trunk for a sports car (no spare tire w/RFT pkg). Electronic displays are hard to read in daylight. Dynamic Stability Control necessitates alignments being performed by dealer - $90. Dealer oil changes are $90. Beautiful car that draws lots of attention from other drivers and pedestrians. Shrinking violets need not apply!

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  2003 BMW Z4 Premium/Sport Everything Rvw - 2003 BMW Z4
  By Jermy1304 - August 20 - 9:39 pm

  I was shopping for a sports car and shortly after driving this car I fell in love with it. The handling is amazing and its got some "get up and go". I will warn you, IT IS A HIGH MAINTENANCE VEHICLE. I bought it 4 months ago with 62k and have had to do 10x as much work as I ever did on my Toyota Tacoma in 2 years. Convertible top doesnt work, Tire sensors were malfunctioning, Turn signal went out, Windshield Wipers malfunctioned, cant jack it up because it is so low, inconvenient access to almost everything, chews up tires because negative camber is set at 3% stock (change to 2% at next alignment )...and still, I am planning to buy a 2009 Z4 because they are THAT FUN! Warning: Chick Magnet.